Description of Study: Evaluation of the outcomes of the first three years of a statewide program.
Findings: 87% of mediations ended in agreement. Issues most likely to be settled were: whether a guardian was needed and who it should be (86%); level of care needed (88%); living arrangements for the adult (90%); and how decisions should be made (83%). Least ...
Description of Study: Evaluation of the first three years of a pilot program in Ohio in which termination of parental rights was mediated.
Findings: The outcomes of mediated cases were: 40.4% had no agreement; 46.2% resulted in parents voluntarily relinquishing their rights; 11.5% resulted in the agency agreeing to pursue a lesser disposition; 1.9% resulted in the agency giving parents another ch...
Description of Study: Examined the long-term satisfaction of mediating couples in York County, PA.
Findings: Parties were satisfied over all. Short-term and long-term satisfaction were related. Satisfaction with mediation was significantly affected by whether an agreement was reached. ...
Description of Study: Examination of the efficacy of mediation of workers' compensation cases on appeal.
Findings: 73% of attorneys were satisfied with the outcome of the mediation (27% very, 46% somewhat). Satisfaction was related to whether the attorney thought the other party was negotiating in good faith. Satisfaction was also related to whether the mediator ...
Description of Study: Comparative study looking at trial rate and satisfaction in custody and visitation cases.
Findings: No difference was found in median time to disposition between mediated and non-mediated cases (which ranged from 4.9 to 6.9 months); there was no effect on trial rate; no difference was found in parties’ long-term satisfaction with the outcome betwee...
Description of Study: Examined domestic relations mediation in thirteen courts in Maine and six courts in Ohio in relation to fairness and satisfaction.
Findings: Maine:Parties overall perceived the process to be fair (93% thought it was very or somewhat fair). Most parties were satisfied – 83% were very or somewhat satisfied. There was little sense by parties that mediation reduced costs (15%) or time involve...
Description of Study: Evaluation of the impact of Minnesota Supreme Court Rule 114 (requiring attorneys to consider ADR in every civil case and discuss it with their clients and opposing counsel) on the use of mediation in Minnesota.
Findings: Attorneys chose mediation because it saved litigation expenses (67.9%) and because it made settlement more likely (57.4%). However, they did not think it reduced their workload. Mediation as compared to litigation process: 46.7% said it saved attorne...
Description of Study: Reports on the findings of two studies of three custody and visitation mediation programs and one divorce mediation program that included support and property division as well: the Winnipeg Study, and the Divorce and Family Mediation Study (Montreal, Saskatoon, St. John’s).
Findings: Across sites, 80% to 90% of respondents felt the mediator was fair; 16% felt pressured into an agreement before they were ready. The settlement rate in the Winnipeg Study was 65% per the mediators, 46% per the parties. The settlement rate in the DFMS...
Description of Study: Comparative study examining satisfaction and cost of litigation in domestic relations and simple civil case mediation programs in a multi-door courthouse. The findings for the civil case mediation program are reported here.
Findings: Mediated cases were more complex than those that were not mediated. Parties who mediated were more likely to characterize their relationship as bitter and were much more likely to have children. Parties who mediated had higher attorney fees ($2765 in...
Description of Study: Study of the functioning and impact of victim-offender mediation programs at Community Dispute Resolution Centers in Clackamas, Deschutes, Jackson, Lane, Multnomah, and Polk Counties.
Findings: The resolution rate was 86% for all programs combined. 89% of victims and 76% of offenders were satisfied with the outcome. 93% of victims and 87% of offenders felt the agreement was fair to the offender, while 86% of offenders and 88% of victims fe...
